Plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment for dispensing a ribbon therefrom

ABSTRACT

A plush teddy bear having an interior chest cavity for receiving decorative attachment devices therein. The plush teddy bear includes a head, a body, arms and legs; and the body has a chest cavity with a built-in storage compartment for receiving decorative attachment devices therein selected from the group consisting of ribbons, hook and loop fastening ties, and a stretch band loop. The built-in storage compartment includes a compartment wall and closure means such as closure flaps having hook and loop closure fastening tabs, a zipper, buttons, or male and female closure snaps for enclosing the decorative attachment devices within the built-in storage compartment. The compartment wall is used for attaching a first end of the decorative attachment devices within the built-in storage compartment using fastening means thereto. The plush teddy bear includes a second end of the decorative attachment devices for withdrawing the decorative attachment devices from within the built-in storage compartment for fastening the second end(s) of the decorative attachment devices about a box or a package in order to decorate the box or package with the plush teddy bear on the box or package for ornamentation purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment for holding, storing and the dispensing of decorative ribbons therefrom. More particularly, the decorative ribbons are permanently affixed to a wall within the storage compartment and the dispensed decorative ribbons are used for tying around a gift box or package such that the plush toy is secured to the gift box or package for ornamental purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stuffed animals, dolls and other toy devices for use as storage or holding devices are well known in the prior art. Also, these stuffed animals, dolls and other toy devices are often used as an ornamentation to a gift. Typically, these ornamentation members are attached to a gift box by using contact adhesives, glue or ribbon that attaches the ornamentation member (stuffed plush toy) to the gift box. The aforementioned attachment devices are time consuming, and are especially messy with the use of contact adhesives or glues, and they take too much effort and time in wrapping a gift.

There remains a need for a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment capable of storing, holding and dispensing a decorative tie or holding member, such as ribbons, from the storage compartment in order to tie around a gift box or package such that the plush toy is secured to the gift box or package for ornamental purposes, such as a special birthday or holiday occasion. Further, the built-in storage compartment has closure means for releasably closing the storage compartment when not in use for holding and securing the decorative ribbons therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Stuffed animals, stuffed toys and soft dolls having various accessories, designs, configurations and materials of construction have been generally disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0168919 to PERKINS discloses a plush toy that has a hidden prize therein. The plush toy has an outer skin defining an interior volume, with a filler material filling the interior volume. An opening is provided in the outer skin for access to the interior volume. The prize is disposed in the interior volume and a closure closes the opening in the outer skin such that access to the prize requires alteration of the closure or of the outer skin. A kit includes components for retaining and storing a keepsake in the interior of a plush toy and a method allows the retention and storing of a keepsake in the interior volume of the plush toy. The prize may a be piece of jewelry, money, a certificate of some type, a keepsake or memento, or other items having economic or sentimental value. The opening in the plush toy may be closed in other ways. For example, the opening may include a zipper, hook and loop fastener material, snaps, laces, or any other method of closing the opening. This prior art publication does not disclose or teach the concept or structure of a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment for dispensing a decoration, such as ribbons, that can be tied around a gift box or package, such that the plush toy is secured to the gift box or package of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,462 to TREIBITZ et al. discloses a closure for a doll with a keepsake photo and a closure for closing a filing opening in a stuffed toy. The stuffed toy is constructed of a fabric shell with a hollow interior and a filling conduit is joined to the fabric shell adjacent to a filling opening in the fabric shell. The filling conduit is in communication with the hollow interior of the fabric shell for the insertion into the fabric shell of a filling material. Sealing flaps, having a pocket for receiving a keepsake, are disposed on the filling conduit, and coated with a heat-activated adhesive for sealing the filing conduit closed. Outer closure ties are attached to the fabric shell surrounding the filling opening. The outer closure ties can be tied together to close the filling opening. When the closure is located on the front of a doll, the resulting knot gives the appearance of the doll's bellybutton. This prior art patent does not disclose or teach the concept or structure of a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment for dispensing a decoration, such as ribbons, that can be tied around a gift box or package, such that the plush toy is secured to the gift box or package of the present invention.

U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/0046828 to MORRIS discloses a doll which is soft and safe to use as a toy by children. The doll features a closeable compartment within the body of the doll for the storage of accessories and clothing associated with the doll. The storage compartment is accessible through an opening in the back of the doll. The opening in the back of the doll is provided with a cover manufactured from a soft material. The cover is held in a closed position through the use of buttons, snaps, zipper, VELCRO® tape or other means. The storage compartment is for receiving various accessory items or articles of clothing associated with the doll when not in use. The storage compartment of the doll may be used to store the doll's clothing such as shirts, pants, dresses, undergarments and socks. The storage compartment may also be used to store the doll's accessories such as shoes, boots, hats, gloves, scarves, pipe, baseball bat, hockey stick and so on. This prior art publication does not disclose or teach the concept or structure of a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment for dispensing a decoration, such as ribbons, that can be tied around a gift box or package, such that the plush toy is secured to the gift box or package of the present invention.

None of the aforementioned prior art references teach or disclose the basic structure of a plush toy or teddy bear that includes an integral built-in storage compartment for holding and storing a decoration, such as ribbons, a stretch band loop, or hook and loop fastening ties, wherein these decorations can be tied around a gift box or package, such that the plush toy is secured thereto.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment for enclosing and storing a decoration, such that the decoration can be tied or fastened around/about a gift box package, so that the plush toy is secured as an ornament to the gift box or package, wherein the decoration can be in the form of ribbons, a stretch band loop, hook and loop fastening ties, or other similar devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment that is releasably closeable by the use of hook and loop fastening tabs, a zipper, buttons or male and female closure snaps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment that has a storage back wall for permanently attaching an inner end of the decoration to the storage back wall, by fastening means such as contact adhesive, hot gluing, stapling, laser welding or stitching.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment where the plush toy is selected from a group consisting of stuffed toy animals or dolls, such as teddy bears, lions, tigers, pigs, monkeys, gorillas, ponies, horses, sheep, dinosaurs, cows, Raggedy-Anne or Andy dolls, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment so that it is easy to dispense the decorations and is durable and cleanable for repeated use by the consumer.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment for storing or dispensing a decoration therefrom that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner, and is readily affordable by the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a plush teddy bear having an interior chest cavity for receiving decorative attachment devices therein. The plush teddy bear includes a head, a body, arms and legs; and the body has a chest cavity with a built-in storage compartment for receiving decorative attachment devices therein selected from the group consisting of ribbons, hook and loop fastening ties, and a stretch band loop. The built-in storage compartment includes a compartment wall and closure means such as closure flaps having hook and loop closure fastening tabs, a zipper, buttons, or male and female closure snaps for enclosing the decorative attachment devices within the built-in storage compartment. The compartment wall is used for attaching a first end of the decorative attachment devices within the built-in storage compartment using fastening means thereto. The plush teddy bear includes a second end of the decorative attachment devices for withdrawing the decorative attachment devices from within the built-in storage compartment for fastening the second end(s) of the decorative attachment devices about a box or a package in order to decorate the box or package with the plush teddy bear on the box or package for ornamentation purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the consideration of the following detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the plush teddy bear with an integral pocket for enclosing a ribbon of the preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the major component parts thereof;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the plush teddy bear with an integral pocket for enclosing a ribbon of the present invention showing a back section having a storage pocket with hook and loop closure tabs for holding and storing of a pair of ribbons therein;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the plush teddy bear with an integral pocket for enclosing a ribbon of the present invention showing the ribbons being withdrawn from the storage pocket;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the plush teddy bear with an integral pocket for enclosing a ribbon of the present invention showing a stretch band loop being withdrawn from the storage pocket;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the plush teddy bear with an integral pocket for enclosing a ribbon of the present invention showing a pair of hook and loop fastening ties/strips being withdrawn from the storage pocket;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the plush teddy bear with an integral pocket for enclosing a ribbon of the present invention taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows showing the storage pocket and the stored ribbons within the storage pocket located within a torso section of the plush teddy bear; and

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the plush teddy bear with an integral pocket for enclosing a ribbon of the present invention showing the plush teddy bear in an operational mode and in an assembled state thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The plush toy 10 having an integral storage pocket or storage compartment 42 and its component parts of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are represented in detail by FIGS. 1 through 7 of the patent drawings. The plush toy 10 in the form of a teddy bear 20 is used for the decorating and adorning of a present, a gift box 12 or a gift package and the like, such that a pair of decorative ribbons 50 a and 50 b are withdrawn from the storage compartment 42 and the ribbons 50 a and 50 b are used to tie the teddy bear 20 to the gift box or package 12 for decoration purposes, as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the plush toy 10 includes a head 22 having a pair of ears 24 a and 24 b, a pair of eyes 26 a and 26 b, a nose 28, a mouth 30; and having a body or torso 32 with a back torso wall 33, a pair of arms 34 a and 34 b and a pair of legs 36 a and 36 b being attached thereto. It is understood that the plush toy 10 may be in other animal forms such as lions, tigers, pigs, monkeys, dinosaurs, ponies, sheep, and the like, or in human forms such as Raggedy-Anne dolls, and the like. Teddy bear 20 includes a fur-like outer layer 38 which represents the outer “fur” of the bear 20.

The torso 32 of teddy bear 20, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, includes a chest cavity 40 having a built-in storage compartment 42 with hook and loop closure fastening tabs 44 a and 44 b for enclosing a pair of ribbons 50 a and 50 b within the storage compartment 42; or alternatively, a stretch band loop 60; or a pair of hook and loop fastening ties 70 a and 70 b within the storage compartment 42. The built-in storage compartment 42 can include other closure means such as a zipper, buttons, or male and female closure snaps. Storage compartment 42 includes an inner storage back wall 46 for attaching a first end 52 or 62 or 72 of the ribbons 50 a and 50 b, or the stretch band loop 60, or the fastening ties 70 a and 70 b, respectively, such that the ribbons 50 a and 50 b, the stretch band loop 60 and the hook and loop fastening ties 70 a and 70 b are permanently attached to the back wall 46 of storage compartment 42, as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The first end(s) or inner end(s) 52, 62 or 72 of ribbons 50 a and 50 b, or the stretch band loop 60 or the fastening ties 70 a and 70 b, respectively, are permanently attached or affixed to the inner storage back wall 46 by fastening means that include contact adhesives, hot gluing, stapling, laser welding or stretching.

In a further alternate design, teddy bear 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, includes a decorative ornament 80 being held within the arms 34 a and 34 b of plush toy 10. The decorative ornament 80 can include a flower 82 for a birthday, a heart decoration 84 for Valentine's Day, or other such ornaments for representing a particular occasion or holiday, or special event.

OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, the plush toy 10 having an integral storage compartment 42 for enclosing and dispensing ribbons 50 a and 50 b therefrom, operates in the following manner. The user initially separates the closure hook and loop fastening tabs 44 a and 44 b in order to access and open the built-in storage compartment 42 on the back torso wall 33 of teddy bear 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This step enables the user to remove the closure hook and loop fastening tabs 44 a and 44 b from each other in order to expose the ribbons 50 a and 50 b within storage compartment 42. The user is now able to pull and withdraw ribbons 50 a and 50 b using second ends 54, or using second end 64 of stretch band loop 60, or using a pair of second ends 74 of hook and loop fastening ties 70 a and 70 b from within storage compartment 42, respectively, as depicted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

In the next step, as shown in FIG. 7, the user fastens or ties the ribbons 50 a and 50 b, or the stretch band loop 60, or the hook and loop fastening ties 70 a and 70 b about the gift box or package 12 in order to decorate the gift box or package 12 with teddy bear 20 for a particular occasion. The above step is reversible in order to save the teddy bear 20 for another occasion. That is the ribbon 50 a and 50 b, or the stretch band loop 60, or the hook and loop fastening ties 70 a and 70 b can be returned and placed within the storage compartment 42 for use at another occasion.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment for enclosing and storing a decoration, such that the decoration can be tied or fastened around/about a gift box such that the plush toy is secured as an ornament to the gift box, wherein the decoration can be in the form of ribbons, a stretch band loop or hook and loop fastening ties.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment that is releasably closable by the use of hook and loop fastening tabs, a zipper, buttons or male and female closure snaps.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment that has a storage back wall for permanently attaching an inner end of the decoration to the storage back wall by fastening means such as contact adhesive, hot gluing, stapling, laser welding or stitching.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment where the plush toy is selected from a group consisting of stuffed toy animals or dolls such as teddy bears, lions, tigers, pigs, monkeys, gorillas, ponies, horses, sheep, dinosaurs, cows, Raggedy-Anne or Andy dolls and the like.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a plush toy having an integral built-in storage compartment that is easy to dispense the decorations and is durable and cleanable for repeated use by the consumer.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides for a plush toy having an integral built-ion storage compartment for storing or dispensing a decoration therefrom that can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the consumer.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein. 

1. A plush teddy bear having an interior chest cavity for receiving decorative attachment devices therein, comprising: a) a plush teddy bear having a head, a body, arms and legs; b) said body having a chest cavity with a built-in storage compartment for receiving decorative attachment devices therein selected from the group consisting of ribbons, hook and loop fastening ties, and a stretch band loop; c) said built-in storage compartment including a compartment wall and closure means for enclosing said decorative attachment devices within said built-in storage compartment; d) said compartment wall for attaching a first end of said decorative attachment devices within said built-in storage compartment using fastening means thereto; e) a second end of said decorative attachment devices for withdrawing said decorative attachment devices from within said built-in storage compartment for fastening said second end(s) of said decorative attachment devices about a box or a package in order to decorate the box or package with said plush teddy bear on the box or package for ornamentation purposes.
 2. A plush teddy bear having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closure means include closure flaps having hook and loop closure fastening tabs, a zipper, buttons, or male and female closure snaps.
 3. A plush teddy bear having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fastening means include contact adhesives, hot glueing, stapling, laser welding or stitching for permanently attaching said first end of said decorative attachment device to said compartment wall within said built-in storage compartment.
 4. A plush teddy bear having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said arms of said plush teddy bear include a decorative ornament being held within said arms of said plush teddy bear.
 5. A plush teddy bear having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 4, wherein said decorative ornament is selected from the group consisting of a flower, jewelry, candy, a heart decoration, a candle, a picture, or other such ornaments for representing a particular occasion, holiday or an event.
 6. A plush toy having an interior chest cavity for receiving decorative attachment devices therein, comprising: a) a plush toy having a head, a body, arms and legs; b) said body having a chest cavity with a built-in storage compartment for receiving decorative attachment devices therein selected from the group consisting of ribbons, hook and loop fastening ties, and a stretch band loop; c) said built-in storage compartment including a compartment wall and closure means for enclosing said decorative attachment devices within said built-in storage compartment; d) said compartment wall for attaching a first end of said decorative attachment devices within said built-in storage compartment using fastening means thereto; e) a second end of said decorative attachment devices for withdrawing said decorative attachment devices from within said built-in storage compartment for fastening said second end(s) of said decorative attachment devices about a box or a package in order to decorate the box or package with said plush toy on the box or package for ornamentation purposes.
 7. A plush toy having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 6, wherein said closure means include closure flaps having hook and loop closure fastening tabs, a zipper, buttons, or male and female closure snaps.
 8. A plush toy having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 6, wherein said fastening means include contact adhesives, hot glueing, stapling, laser welding or stitching for permanently attaching said first end of said decorative attachment device to said compartment wall within said built-in storage compartment.
 9. A plush toy having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 6, wherein said arms of said plush toy include a decorative ornament being held within said arms of said plush toy.
 10. A plush toy having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 9, wherein said decorative ornament is selected from the group consisting of a flower, jewelry, candy, a heart decoration, a candle, a picture, or other such ornaments for representing a particular occasion, holiday or an event.
 11. A plush toy having a built-in storage compartment in accordance with claim 6, wherein said plush toy is selected from the group of animal forms consisting of lions, tigers, pigs, monkeys, dinosaurs, ponies, sheep and horses, or in human forms such as dolls. 